In this guide, our Japan Ambassador, Lilah, breaks down the ins and outs of Japan’s transportation system – from Tokyo’s local trains to the iconic Shinkansen bullet train. Whether you’re planning a trip or moving to teach English, this blog covers everything you need to know about airports, buses, city passes, and more. Avoid costly mistakes (hello, $250 taxi ride!) and learn how to travel efficiently and affordably across Japan.

Ready to explore? Let this guide be your go-to resource for seamless adventures in Japan!

Hi everyone! I’m Lilah – the current Japan Ambassador for the Teach Abroad program offered by TravelBud. This month, I wanted to touch on different transportation options in Japan and hopefully provide some clarity on how to get around Tokyo for anyone considering moving here, or even just taking a trip to visit! I’ve split this guide into sections so you can easily find a general overview for each mode of travel. 

Tokyo Airports 

If you plan to fly into Tokyo, you have two options: Narita Airport or Haneda Airport. Haneda Airport is right in Ota City in Tokyo and is a lot more convenient for getting into the heart of the city quickly. Using the Keikyu Line, you can get on the train directly at Haneda and transfer to one of Tokyo’s primary subway lines in under 30 minutes. Narita is located in the prefecture to the East of Tokyo (Chiba Prefecture), so it takes a bit longer to get from here into Tokyo. Personally, I always try to fly in and out of Haneda when possible because it takes a lot less time to get there from where I live in Yokohama, but sometimes a trek out to Narita is impossible to avoid, so knowing the most efficient way to get there is a must. The airport is also where I would recommend picking up your first transit card, because at least in Tokyo, they are no longer sold in metro recharge machines and you need to speak to a station master to get one. 

Taxis 

The main point I want to make about taxis in Japan is basically not to use them! Taxis are super expensive and often prey upon foreigners who may be easily confused by the train and bus systems to the point of just caving and paying for a really pricey ride to your next destination. Even rideshare apps like Uber are actually tied to the “Go Taxi” system that serves major cities in Japan, so if you try to circumvent the expense of a car ride this way, you’ll find yourself unpleasantly surprised. During my first night on my first trip to Japan, I took a taxi from the airport to my hostel, and I’ll never forget the sinking feeling I felt as the fare climbed higher and higher as we drove along – eventually reaching a grand total of $250! I can laugh about it now, but I really hope to warn future travelers against making the same mistake! 

JR Trains  

The Japan Railways Group, or JR trains, is a rail company that operates throughout the entirety of Japan and specializes in Local, Semi-Express, Express, and Rapid services from one destination to another. JR train systems are separated by region (East, West, Central, etc) and typically run from end to end within different prefectures and cross over into neighboring ones. In theory, you could take JR trains all the way through the country (it would just take a really long time)! JR Railways also operates the Shinkansen system, which I’ll touch on later. I find that these trains are the form of transportation I take the most often since they cover the most ground, offer the most variety in service speed, and run every 4-10 minutes depending on which service you are seeking. Even my commute to school has me riding six stops on a JR Line that runs from Yokohama all the way through Tokyo prefecture and into Saitama!

Local Trains  

Local subway and rail lines operate pretty much the same as the aforementioned JR Rail, they just run into more suburban and remote parts of different cities. These trains are easily accessible at transfer stations (stations that offer service via local trains and the JR Lines) and are super helpful when you’re looking to get out of the city and into more residential areas. 

Buses 

Personally, I prefer taking the train to hopping on a bus, but sometimes the bus is the best option to get to more secluded or out-of-the-way attractions. Using the bus in Japan is really easy if you have a metro card, as most city buses will accept payment via this method using a “tap on” and “tap off” system. If you’re worried about using a metrocard, buses are the one transportation option where you can pretty much always reliably use cash to ride, which is nice if you don’t want to bother with loading up a transit card or purchasing tickets in advance. My one recommendation would be to carefully check the bus route to where you need to go before boarding, as sometimes many buses will have similar routes and then split off in different directions when nearing the final few stops, which can land you somewhere you didn’t intend to go. 

The Shinkansen 

Probably the most common question I get when friends visit me here in Japan is how the bullet train works, how to buy tickets, and if they should book them in advance. Let me begin by saying that the bullet train, or Shinkansen, is one of the most convenient ways to travel in Japan. Trains come every 5-7 minutes and operate from very early in the morning to nearly midnight! When planning to take the Shinkansen, there’s no need to book tickets in advance – there are so many trains coming in and going out each day that I have found there’s always space on at least one of them going to your destination of choice. Shinkansen tickets can be purchased literally 10 minutes before your train leaves on a simple kiosk near the platform gates, with services offered in multiple languages. This is my favorite way to travel around Japan, although it is definitely the priciest!

Special City Passes 

Finally, I wanted to mention that some cities that are especially prone to tourism often will offer a special city pass that allows unlimited use of buses and trains within that jurisdiction for a set amount of time, sometimes a single day, others over the course of multiple days. While I’ve never personally tried this method myself, I’ve witnessed many people successfully purchase and use passes like these in places like Kamakura, Hakone, and Kagoshima. This could be a good option if you’re only planning a day trip to a select location that may offer a good daily deal on transportation!

If you choose to visit Japan or even move there to teach abroad, I would recommend lightly researching the transportation systems here before you go, as they can be quite extensive compared to other countries and can take some getting used to. I hope this guide provides a preliminary basis of information for future travellers to Japan! If you’re interested in reading more about my experiences, please continue checking @travelbudco socials for more!